SUVs and Global Warming

The main points of a report byThe Sierra Club

(Viewfinder Topic The American Dream, pp. 57-58):introduction and first half (ll. 1-45)

The Sierra Club

• the oldest environmentalist group in the U.S.

• founded in 1892 by John Muir

• responsible for creation of several National Parks

• still an important part of the environmentalist movement

SUVs in advertising

• ... climbing snow-capped mountains

• ... racing through desert sand dunes

• ... taking their owners into the wild

In other words: highly unrealistic.

Everyday use: on roads, in cities.

FREEDOM

What SUV dealers don’t say:

POLLUTIONGlobal-warming pollution

air pollution

DANGERroll over in accident

kill occupants in a rollover

EXPENSEScost of gasoline

SUVs43 % more47 % more

than

4x more likely average

3x more likely cars

1000s/$ more

The Legal Side

• Since 1975, “light trucks” allowed to use more gas & pollute more than normal cars

• SUVs (sport utility vehicles) and mini-vans defined as “light trucks”

-----------------------------------------------------------

• In 1975: light trucks ~ 20 % of all vehicles

• Today: “light trucks” ~ 50 % of all vehicles,still low environmental standards

Picture credits

• transparency #1: “G4 Challenge” - CC license by tienvijftien,accessible at www.flickr.com/photos/brunoderegge/2525255731/

• transparency #2: “The Sierra Club” homepage logo and menu (screenshot), accessible at www.sierraclub.org/welcome

Vielen Dank für die Aufmerksamkeit!

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